Around the Area

From Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," Christmas is portrayed as a snowy time. However, many areas of the U.S. do not necessarily have a high probability of a white Christmas*.

Since many people may have a different idea of what constitutes a white Christmas, it is being defined in this story as a snow depth of an inch or more on Christmas Day.

Normal December snowfall and temperatures are both critical factors that play a role in who gets a white Christmas. This is due to the fact that snow needs to fall and stay put on the ground to meet the definition.

Based on data from 1981 to 2010, northern New England, the Upper Midwest, Rocky Mountains and Intermountain West have the highest chance, more than 75 percent, of a white Christmas.

Minneapolis, Minn., Green Bay, Wis., Buffalo, N.Y., and Burlington, Vt., are among the cities in the U.S. that have the highest chance for a white Christmas.

"It tends to stay colder across the northern tier during the day and night, so when snow falls, it's less likely to melt," AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

The Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities voted unanimously on Wednesday to endorse an increase in sewer rates proposed by the Department of Public Utilities.

The hike is necessary to cover the costs of repairing and replacing the 50- to 60-year-old infrastructure. The proposed ordinance increases overall sewer rates but also simplifies residential customers’ bills to a restructured flat fee every month. It removes the variable rate that is based on the amount of potable water consumed during winter months. The ordinance also includes continuing annual rate increases of eight percent for the next four years beginning in June 2013 to meet the critical future capital expenses of the sewer collection and wastewater treatment systems.

Commercial customers will continue to be charged a variable rate, but under the proposed ordinance these customers will pay the $7 customer fee in lieu of the previous fixed rate. The commercial variable rate will increase from $5.89 to $11.91 and will be based on the winter average of potable water consumed with a minimum 2000 gallons or other measuring period as determined appropriate by the DPU based on seasonal or other non-traditional water use patterns. Commercial customers’ rates will also rise by 8 percent a year through 2016.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Part of the Valles Caldera National Preserve that was burned by a wildfire last year is again open to hikers and for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing this winter.

The Valles Caldera Trust said Wednesday the public can access the preserve's Rabbit Mountain area through trails such as the Coyote Call trail and logging roads. Motorized vehicles are prohibited as well as overnight camping.

New Mexico Route 4 borders Rabbit Mountain in the preserve, and the trust said access to the reopened area also is possible from Forest Roads 289, 268 and 36.

The Las Conchas wildfire last year burned portions of the 89,000-acre preserve, which is near Los Alamos in northern New Mexico.

The Los Alamos County Democratic Party Central Committee unanimously elected Michael Redondo to replace Kenneth Johnson on the Democratic ticket for the Los Alamos county council race. Johnson withdrew on Aug. 17, saying he would likely be moving away from the county before the term had ended.

Redondo was the only candidate to put himself forward to fill the vacancy. He had contemplated entering the race before the primaries, but had chosen not to run so he could pursue a job with the county. The county position is no longer an option, so Redondo decided to throw his hat in.

"I care for this town. I want to see it prosper. I want to see people like myself be able to come back to this town, having grown up here, and be able to get a job, and that job not necessarily be at the lab," Redondo said. "I think this community really needs to think about diversifying its economy. In essence, it's a one company town, and unless you are willing and can get a job at the lab, it's difficult for people who grew up here to be able to stay."

At approximately10 a.m. Monday morning a contractor severed an underground electric line while removing a section of sidewalk, leaving businesses on the south side of Trinity from 20th to the end DP Road without power for a brief period of time.

Electric line crews with the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities responded and rerouted power around the damaged section to restore power in less than 30 minutes. Permanent repairs will be scheduled in the near future.

In a unanimous decision, the Los Alamos county council voted Geoff Rodgers in as Vice Chair Tuesday evening. The position was vacated when Ron Selvage resigned last week.

Council also voted unanimously on a procedure for filling Selvage's seat. Staff was directed to solicit letters of intent from those interested in the position, with a deadline of 5 p.m. Aug. 28. Council will select a candidate in a special session on Sept. 6.